Living In The Light

September 24, Work As Never Before

Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
—Isaiah 60:1 LL 282.1

God designs that the sick, the unfortunate, those possessed with evil spirits, shall hear His voice through us. Through His human agents He desires to be a Comforter such as the world has never before seen. His words are to be voiced by His followers: “Let not your heart be troubled: neither let it be afraid.” “Ye believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:27, 1). LL 282.2

The Lord will work through every soul that will give himself or herself up to be worked, not only to preach, but to minister to the despairing, and to inspire hope in the hearts of the hopeless. We are to act our part in relieving and softening the miseries of this life. The miseries and mysteries of this life are as dark and cloudy as they were thousands of years ago. There is something for us to do: “Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee” (Isaiah 60:1). There are needy close by us; the suffering are in our very borders. We must try to help them. By the grace of Christ, the sealed fountains of earnest, Christlike work are to be unsealed. In the strength of Him who has all strength, we are to work as we have never worked before. The time of need and necessity makes plain our great need of a present, all-powerful God, in whom is everlasting strength, and in whose power we may work. LL 282.3

The secret of success is not in our learning, not in our position, not in our numbers, nor the greatness of our talents; it is not in the will of human beings. The Lord God of Israel is our strength. The willing and obedient will gain victory after victory. The Lord’s workers must feel their inefficiency, must contemplate Christ, and conquer through Him who is the thought of all thought, the strength of all strength. Grasp the hand of Christ, and say, I will not let Thee go except Thou bless me. He will respond, Keep near to Me; I will hold your hand. My grasp shall never relax. Possess your souls in patience, in meekness, in humbleness of mind, and yet, “Arise, shine, for thy light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon thee” (verse 1). LL 282.4

Day by day God must be with us, preparing us to learn of Him, that He may teach us perfect obedience that we may be ever with Him. — Letter 49a, 1897. LL 282.5

Further Reflection: Successful service for God is completely dependent on God because He is our strength. How does this truth free us to give our best effort as we serve? LL 282.6